Missoula Brewers Shine: Celebrating Success At The Beer Awards

There is a job out there that I would love to have, but would probably hate at the same time. It would have to be being a judge for the annual Montana Beer Awards. I would love it for the opportunity to sample some of the best beers in the state, but having to choose winners would be tough.

The Montana Brewers Association had the difficult task this past weekend of choosing which brews would win the top honors in a very competitive field. Choosing the best brews in Montana has gotten more and more difficult as the quality of beverages just keeps getting better.

Congratulations to all the winners across the state. Missoula was well represented in the awards and brought home some hardware at the awards.

Missoula's Cranky Sam Brewing took home a big award being named Montana's Medium Brewery of the Year.

Missoula had two gold medal winning beverages:

• Bayern Eisbock from Bayern Brewery won in the Strong Lager category
• Pog Seltzer from Big Sky Brewing won in the Alternative Products category

Missoula's silver medal wining beverages:

• Snowslip Stout from Cranky Sam Brewing won in the Brown & Black Ale category
• Noble Pilsner from Cranky Sam Brewing won in the Hop Forward Pale Lager category
• Peaks to Prairie from Highlander Beer won in the Peaks to Prairie category
• Ivan the Terrible-Almond Joy from Big Sky Brewing Company won in the Vegetable and Spiced Beer category
• Bayern St. Walter Hefeweizen from Bayern Brewing won in the Wheat Ale category

Missoula's bronze winning beverages:

• Queen of Cups from Gild Brewing won in the Hazy Pale Ale category
• Scotch Ale from Highlander Beer won in the Scottish Ale category
• Ivan the Terrible from Big Sky Brewing Company won in the Smoke & Wood Flavored category
• Baltic Porter from Cranky Sam Brewing won in the Strong Lager category

When local breweries win awards like this, you may want to take note. Brewing in Montana is not easy and the competition is only going to continue to get harder as time goes on. Both the University of Montana and Montana State University now offer classes on beer brewing so future brewers are already learning the trade.

So let's raise a glass to the winning brews, and please drink responsibly.